Horsetail Pinot Noir 2022
We only recently launched Horsetail 2022 and the re-orders and feedback are already streaming in. Our favorite so far: "This recommendation is a great one. Really really excellent Pinot. My kind of wine at an excellent price point." We can't say it better than that (thank you, G.F.!). Here's the original writeup—if you didn't grab some on the first round, don't miss it today.
You've seen our reviews on previous vintages of Horsetail but after a lot of reflection and an especially excellent 2022 vintage, we're going to lay out the story and the math differently:
We take the winemaker at Beaux Freres and the winemaker at Domaine Roy—two Willamette Valley estates where bottles run well north of $100—and we tell you that together, these two winemakers produce a sub-$30 Willamette Valley Pinot noir under their own label. That we've tasted. That is outstanding.
This is Horsetail from the Etzel brothers, sons of Beaux Freres founder Michael Etzel. And we're telling you: the math, the story, and the flavor are particularly compelling in the '22 vintage and that adds up to a highly recommended Pinot.
As we note above, the 2022 vintage is especially strong for Horsetail. The flavor is like a big bowl of fresh Oregon blackberries with raspberry and thyme highlights; it is a pure delight. There is extra depth to it yet more vibrancy, too. And where it really shines is its pillowy texture and weight. I don't impress easily and holy crap, color me impressed.